Billion-dollar US video game coaching business ramps up during lockdown

Fiverr.com, an online marketplace, saw a 43% jump in the number of video game coaching sessions booked between January and March. According to the company, instruction geared towards Fortnite and Rainbow Six Siege was especially popular. — AFP

During his senior year in high school, Taylor Heim, an aspiring eSports player who lives on the outskirts of Philadelphia, has enjoyed a steady part-time job. For roughly a dozen hours a week, Heim hops online and coaches fellow video game enthusiasts on how to improve their skills at Overwatch, a multiplayer shooting competition.

Like most video game coaches, Heim talks with his clients on video calls while watching them compete live or in replays of earlier matches. For a fee, Heim analyses their mistakes and gives them tips on how to get better.